An Ultimate Guide about Sentence Errors

Sentence errors occur when they are written in Standard Written English.

Common Sentence Errors and How to Avoid Them

Here are four common sentence mistakes and how you can avoid them.

1. Sentence Fragments

Fragmentation is the error where a group of words combines into a sentence that appears incomplete.

The most common examples are:

• Went for a walk.
• To the palace.

The “to be” verbs used for sentence fragments are most often used to talk about the future or to make comparisons.

You will to learn how to use the “to be” verbs in different ways to form different types of sentence fragments. Use the “to be” Verb “be” to make statements about the future:

• I’ll be there in two years.
• The sun will be shining on the grass.

An incomplete sentence should appear as a complete sentence. For instance, by allowing a phrase or a dependent clause (subordinate clause) to exist on its own as if a full sentence were present.

To avoid writing fragment sentences, make sure that a complete sentence follows the group of words.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement Issues

In addition, incorrect subject-verb agreement is another common mistake. The most common mistake in the present simple tense is the missing ‘s’.

A sentence must follow the subject-verb agreement in order to be grammatically correct. If the subject is in the single form, the verb should also be in the singular form and vice versa.

Replace it with the correct form if possible. Know more about subject-verb agreement.

3. Run-on Sentence

A run-on sentence is one that contains two independent clauses, but is not properly connected through punctuation or appropriate conjunction. Known as fused sentence, it is also known as a sentence.

In the sentence “I think that you would like to go to the party.” You may notice that the two independent clauses separates through a comma and a conjunction. Notice that the comma is not a period.

If these two clauses were to become fused, the punctuation would be incorrect. The punctuation is correct because the two clauses separates by a period.

The punctuation will not be incorrect and the sentence should be written correctly. Run-on sentences are usually found when a writer is either not familiar with the rules of English grammar or is lazy.

4. Fused Sentence

It is composed of two or more main clauses which are not properly joined by punctuation marks, such as a semicolon or a conjunction.

When a writer has trouble composing a clear and concise sentence, this is the result. An English language writer will usually break the sentence up into two or more parts when she or she lacks the experience needed.

This may create various problems, as the two or more sentences are not joined correctly.

The writer may write a few sentences and then have to make changes. The best way to avoid run-on sentences is to make sure you are familiar with the rules of English grammar. Such as Capitalization, Pronunciation, and Punctuation.

5. Plurals

Numbers must be agreed between subject and verb. An “s” is on the end of verbs when they are singular (remember, nouns have an s when called plural).

When writing, you must have good knowledge on how and when to use singulars and plurals. The problem with misusing the two, is that you might lose context of what you are writing. The reader might also get confused on what you really mean, since the grammar is incomprehensible.

When using a pronoun to replace a proper noun, there are errors in agreement. Many times, this error is the use of a singular form rather than a plural form.

Plural nouns and pronouns are commonly preferred to singular noun.

Conclusion: Sentence Errors Resolved

There are various types of sentence errors, each with distinct meaning and expression: sentence fragments, phrasal sentences, run-ons, and fuses.

Writing mistakes of these types can help students understand written opinion pieces, which will be part of their future careers. This list will help you identify each type, so you can learn what they can teach you.